November 4, 2026 | Maltreatment Awareness Day
What we say sets the tone. What we accept becomes acceptable. What we do next matters.
On November 4, Hockey Alberta recognizes Maltreatment Awareness Day (11.4 Day), an opportunity to reflect on the role we all play in creating safe, respectful, and inclusive hockey environments.
This year, Hockey Alberta is introducing YOUR MOVE, a new awareness campaign encouraging everyone involved in hockey, particularly the adults who shape the experience for young athletes, to consider how their words, actions, and responses influence the culture of our game.
Whether we’re coaching behind the bench, cheering from the stands, volunteering in an association, or supporting a player at home, our behaviour contributes to the environment around us.
And when something isn’t right, we all have a role in what happens next.
YOUR MOVE: Four Actions That Make a Difference
The YOUR MOVE campaign focuses on four simple actions that can help build a more positive hockey culture:
- SPEAK UP when something isn’t okay.
- OWN IT when you’re in the wrong.
- BACK OTHERS when they speak up.
- EXPECT BETTER from each other.
These actions apply to everyday situations across hockey. They might mean addressing inappropriate comments directed at an official, taking responsibility for behaviour in the stands, supporting someone who raises a concern, or setting a positive example for the players watching us.
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YOUR MOVE: Four Actions That Make a Difference The YOUR MOVE campaign focuses on four simple actions that can help build a more positive hockey culture:
These actions apply to everyday situations across hockey. They might mean addressing inappropriate comments directed at an official, taking responsibility for behaviour in the stands, supporting someone who raises a concern, or setting a positive example for the players watching us. |
Changing hockey culture isn’t only about responding to serious incidents. It’s also about recognizing the smaller moments where our choices reinforce what is acceptable in our environments.
The YOUR MOVE poster is available for teams, associations and individuals to download and share.
Explore the YOUR MOVE campaign and download the poster on Hockey Alberta’s EDI webpage (see YOUR MOVE tab).
Allyship in Hockey: More Than Words
One important part of creating respectful hockey environments is understanding what it means to be an ally.
As part of this year’s Maltreatment Awareness Day, Anton Joseph, Chair of Hockey Alberta’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, shares his perspective in Allyship in Hockey: More Than Words.
Anton explores how allyship requires more than believing everyone belongs. It involves listening to others, recognizing barriers and discrimination, speaking up when inappropriate behaviour occurs, and supporting those who may experience exclusion.
He also emphasizes the influence of coaches, leaders and teammates in establishing expectations through their everyday actions.
His message reinforces an important part of YOUR MOVE: silence and inaction can shape hockey culture just as much as the things we say and do.
Allyship is one example of how we can put respect and inclusion into practice, and a reminder that building a better hockey environment is a shared responsibility.
Read Anton Joseph’s full article: Allyship in Hockey: More Than Words.
Connecting YOUR MOVE to the Player Pledge
The YOUR MOVE campaign also builds on Hockey Alberta’s existing Player Pledge initiative, It Starts With Us.
The Player Pledge encourages players and teams to make meaningful commitments to respect, inclusion and positive interactions, both on and off the ice.
Through team discussions, individual commitments and shared activities, the Pledge challenges participants to think about the hockey environment they want to create and how they can contribute to it.
The Player Pledge is what we commit to. YOUR MOVE is how we put that commitment into action.
While the Player Pledge focuses on players and teams, YOUR MOVE extends that responsibility to everyone involved in hockey, including parents, spectators, coaches, officials and volunteers.
Teams and associations are encouraged to revisit the Player Pledge, start conversations about the four YOUR MOVE actions and consider how those commitments can be demonstrated throughout the season.
Learn more and take part in the Hockey Alberta Player Pledge
November 4 Is a Starting Point
While November 4 provides an opportunity to raise awareness, building a positive hockey culture requires attention throughout the season.
Hockey Alberta will continue exploring opportunities to connect YOUR MOVE with existing education and engagement initiatives, including resources and messaging that teams and associations can use in their own hockey environments.
We encourage everyone involved in the game to reflect on the example they set and the actions they can take to support others.
Your behaviour doesn’t stop with you. It becomes part of our hockey culture.
Let’s build our hockey culture on respect.
